Single-use tube



' July 2, 1929. I I J. E. TURNER 1.719.736

S INGLE USE TUBE Filed Oct. 20, 1927 Patented July 2, 1929.

UNITED STATES JOHN E. TURNER, OF NEW BRUNSWICK. NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TOJOHNSON &

JOHNSON, OF NEW BRUNSWICK,

NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SINGLE-USE TUBE.

Application filed October 20, 1927. Serial No. 227,470.

This invention relatesrto sample or single use tubes for dispensingvarious creams, pastes and medicanients, and more particularly tocollapsible metal tubes formed with an integral nipple-like projectionwhich, when parted from the tube, exposes a vent or discharge orifice.

As heretofore constructed, such tubes suffer the disadvantage that thesealing extension or nipple is so firmly bound to the body as to requirethe use of a knife, scissors or other implement to separate it.

Hence, it is the object of my invention to provide a simple andinexpensive tube so constructed that the integral sealing tip or nipplereadily may be parted from the body of the tube by a slight manualoperation and without the aid of mechanical devices.

The invention resides in the improved collapsible tubeand in the methodof producing same.

The preferred embodiment and the method of production are disclosed inthe accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of theimproved tube.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view thereof showing the nipple connection.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the nipple supporting area before themetal displacing operation.

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the action of the plunger die indisplacing metal to weaken the nipple supportlng area.

Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views of the appropriate plunger dies.

According to my invention, the usual collapsible tube 5 is formed at itsinitially closed end or breast portion with an integral hollow nipple 6,constituting a rim extension of a dispensing orifice 7. At this stage ofthe operation the metal forming the breast 8, and supporting the nipple6, is of substantially uniform relatively heavy section requiring asharp implement to remove the nipple. In order to obviate thisdifliculty, I weaken the point of connection of the nipple, as at 9, bya metal displacing operation. The preliminary and final phases of thisare shown in Figs. 3 and 4, wherein a forming plunger die 10 is shown inconjunction with a fixed or supporting die 11. The plunger die isequipped with a tapered or conical head 12, the point of which iscentered relatively to the nipple opening and moving upwardly thereinenables the side taper to force breast metal away from the nippleconnection, leaving the latter so thin that the nipple may be parted byhand with neatness and dispatch to expose the dispensing orifice.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A single use or sample tube consisting of a collapsible body havingan end wall of relatively heavy section which declines centrally and isthen continued endwise as a hollow thin wall nipple having an end wallof relatively heavy section, the nipple being joined to the end wall bythin metal whereby it is readily partible from the body to expose thecontents thereof.

2. A single use or sample tube consisting of a collapsible tube having arelatively flat and thick end wall formed with an opening, and a hollowblind nipple formed as a rim extension of said opening and joined to theend wall by thin metal whereby under slight manual effort the nipple maybe completely separated from the end wall with a clean break at the rim.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN E. TURNER.

